Reversible furniture cover or receptacle and method for making same



July 17, 1962 D. o. LEVI 3,044,429

REVERSIBLE FURNITURE COVER 0R RECEPTACLE AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME Filed March 1, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fug-4 LE lg- 5 INVENTOR. DA/JV 0- (EV/ July 17, 1962 3,044,429

D. O. LEVI REVERSIBLE FURNITURE COVER 0R RECEPTACLE AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME Filed March 1, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 04/5) 0' AEV/ rng- :3 BY

222 271624; fibwm 7- Elam Mn Ame/v5 VS July 17, 1962 D. o. LEVI 3,044,429

REVERSIBLE FURNITURE COVER OR RECEPTACLE AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME Filed March 1, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 20c: INVENTOIQ DA\SY o. LEV( 'Zl4 BY ATT'OENSVS United This invention relates to the general class of receptacles in the nature of covers for articles of furniture and, more specifically, the instant invention relates to the cover construction, per se, as well as a method for making the same.

Exemplary of this invention, but not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the applicability of this invention or its versatility, is a receptacle or cover constructed in accordance with the following specification and as illustrated in the drawings, the receptacle or cover being readily adaptable to receive therein miscellaneous loose articles such as are conventionally carried by women in handbags and similar personal articles, or this invention may be applied to serve as covering devices for pillows, cushions, mattresses, suitcases, trunks, ottomans, pads, et cetera. Coverings for such articles are not new, per se, but coverings for such items as are presently available on the open market or as known in all prior art devices are subject to at least three basic objections, for example, one of the most obvious drawbacks to the conventional article cover is its propensity or afinity to become soiled after but a short period of usage. Cover soilage gives rise, in turn, to secondary undesirable consequences which may be classified as (l) lacking sanitation and (2) being ofiensive to the aesthetic eye. In connection with the matter of sanitation, assume that the article to be covered is a pillow foil the users head. Medical science has long looked with disfavor upon the application of .soiled or begrimed articles to the human body for reasons :so obvious as to render unnecessary an elaborate dissertation thereon. Facial contact, therefore, with a soiled pilflow cover comprises an open invitation to infection, disease, allergy aggravations and other health complaints. .As for the aesthetic phase, no one knows better than the homemaker or interior decorator the destructive effect a soiled article of furniture plays in an otherwise perfectly appointed room.

A second of the major disadvantages with known prior art article coverings resides in its lack of versatility. By way of elaboration let it be again assumed that reference is made to the cover for a pillow. When the exposed side of the pillow is covered with a conventional enclosure and the exterior side thereof becomes soiled, the cover must be removed and replaced. This, in turn, may create two additional problems. In the first place, the color of the replacement cover may lack harmony with the surrounding environment, and/ or it may be found that the desired size of the replacement cover is not available. Under either circumstance, a person of discriminating taste would be obliged to remove the article from sight until such time that a similar replacement or substitute cover comes to hand.

The third main objection to conventional furniture article covers resides in the method of construction. For the most part such covers are poorly seam-ed and this permits joined panels to gap, or the seams may be so arranged and disposed as to permit the easy snagging thereof which leads to the eventual ripping of the seam from the joined panels.

To overcome these and other objectionable features and characteristics of known prior art devices, this invention proposes to provide, as a primary object thereof, a reversequipage or accouterment wherein the exposed face or atent Patented July 17, 1962 play side of a fabric or other type of flexible material.

A further object of this invention is to provide for an article to be covered, a cover member wherein each delineated side thereof comprises a pair of fabric panels disposed in juxtaposition relative to each other with each pair having, preferably, a difiering color and wherein each pair of juxtaposed panels are separated, respectively, from one another by a peripherally extending band, belt or side wall wherein the band, belt or side wall is also formed of a pair of panels each having a different color.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a multi-panel receptacle or article cover formed of a fabric material wherein the adjacent edges of the panels and side walls are joined in interlocking seams.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a sewin or stitching method of assembly for joining superimposed pairs of fabric panels with a peripherally extending side wall also formed of a pair of juxtaposed panels to form, as an end result of the sewing or stitching operation, an article cover which is reversible and is of the type generally described supra.

This invention contemplates, as a still further object thereof, the provision of an article cover which is noncomplex in construction and assembly, inexpensiveto manufacture, and which is durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the instant invention will become more evident from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspectiveview of a plurality of substantially rectangular panels formed of fabric material and utilized in constructing a receptacle or a cover member for an article of furniturein accordance with this invention; 7

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the first step in the method for constructing a continuous side wall for the cover member, the side wall being shown in its finished form in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective View of method steps for forming the side wall of FIGURE 4, FIGURE 3 illustr-ating method steps succeeding the step illustrated in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the finished side wall resulting from the practice of the steps illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3;

FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the side wall panel assembly of FIGURE 4 as being folded and interposed between a pair of end panels as the next succeeding step in the assembly of the cover member;

FIGURE 6 illustrates, in a perspective view, the relative positions of the side wall panels and end panels in their relative positions after having been stitched and/or sewed together;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 6, FIGURE 7 illustrating the step of turning inside out or reverting the cover member as the next succeeding step;

FIGURE 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the reverted article of FIGURE 7 as being interposed between a second pair of end panels prior to the sewing thereof thereto;

FIGURE 9 illustrates the furniture cover or receptacle after the assembly of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective View of the article shown in FIGURE 9 and illustrating the next-succeeding step of reverting or turning the same inside out; 7

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of the completed article after the reversion step of FIGURE 10, FIG- I URE 11 showing in dotted lines the step for turning the completed article inside out to display the finished sides of a second pair of end panels, and FIGURE 11 also showing the cover as being equipped with a slide fastener;

FIGURE 12 illustrates the cover member of FIGURE.

FIGURES 15 to 22, inclusive, illustrate a second embodiment of this invention, of which, FIGURE 15 is an exploded perspective view of a side wall assembly for a {cover or receptacle constructed according to this inven- "tion; V r

FIGURE 16 illustrates the side wall assembly of FIG- URE; 15 in assembled form;

' FIGURE 17 is an exploded perspective view showing the side wall assemblyv of FIGURE 16 as being interposed between a pair of end walls prior to connection thereof;

FIGURE 18 be perspective view of the component elements of FIGURE l7 illustrating the same in their connected form and showing, in dotted lines, one step in the reversion of the assembly;

FIGURE 19 illustrates afurther step in the construction of the cover, the: assembly of FIGURE 18 being shown as interposed between a second pair of end panels prior to connection;

FIGURE 20 is an assembly view illustrating the elements of FIGURE 19 in their connected form and showing in dotted lines a'sec ond reversion or turning inside out of the device; a

FIGURE 21 is an inverted perspective viewof the cover shown in FIGURE 20;

FIGURE 22 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view taken substantially on the horizontal plane of line 22-22 of FIGURE 21, looking in the direction of the arrows; ,and,

' FIGURE-23 is illustrative of a modified step in the construction of the cover illustrating the elements of FIG- URE 19 in their connected form and showing in full lines the second and final reversion or turning inside out of the receptacle or cover.

Referring now more specifically to FIGURES 1 to 14,

inclusive, of the drawings, reference numeral 50 designatrs, in general, a reversible receptacle or' cover member constructed in accordance with the teachings of one embodiment of this invention. As illustrated therein, the -covermember 50 is seen to comprise two pairs of end panels 52, 4 between which extends a continuous side wall 56 formed of pairs of panelswith the opposed longitudinal marginal edges, respectively, of the latter secured, as by stitching or sewing, to the: peripheral mar- ;ginal edges of the former.

To construct the cover member 50 and referring in a particular to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, a plurality of end panel members 58, 60, '62 and 64 are cut from fabric materials. As is seen in the drawings, the end panel members are substantially rectangular in configuration and are of substantially the same dimensions. ,The, pair -of panels 58, 60 are preferably formed of materials having the same color and design and the pair of panels 62, #64 are, again, preferably formed with the same color and design but differing from the color and design of the first designated pair of end panel members. Each of the panels has a finished obverse and an unfinished reverse 1 side and such sides are identified in the drawings by the addition of the reference letter U or F to the'panel identifying reference numeral.

Reference numerals-66, 68, 70 and 72- denote, in gen-' eral a plurality of substantially rectangular fabric side wall: panels each" having, preferably, the same color and design as that applied to the end wall panel members 58, 60 and reference numerals 74, 76, 78 and 80 indicate, in general, fabric side wall panels having, preferably, the same color and design as the end wall panels 62, 64. As before, each of the side wall panels have a finished and unfinished obverse and reverse side, respectively, which is identified by the application of the reference letter U or F to its associated reference numeral.

In the several figures the panels 72 and 80' are treated above as being unitary, and will be so treated below. However, as shown in' the drawings, each of these panels are actually formed of a pair of identical substantially rectangular fabric pieces indicated at 72A, 72B and 80A,

'80B. The pairs of pieces 72A, 72B and'SOA, 80B are arranged in substantially planar relation relative to each other with a longitudinal edge of one piece of each pair confronting and abutting a longitudinal edge of the other piece of each pair. The opposed confronting edges of each pair of pieces are then sewed or stitched together at their respective opposed ends as at 82, 84 and 86, 88 to form an intermediate longitudinally extending slot 90, 92 in the panels 72 and 80, respectively. Obviously, the same slots 90, 92 could be formed by merely slitting each of the panels 72, 80 intermediate their respective ends.

FIGURES 2 and 3 are illustrative of the steps or method employed leading to the construction of the side wall panel assembly 56 shown in FIGURE 4. The first step of the assembly comprises the superimposition of a pair of side wall panels 66, 74 with the area of the panels being co-extensive, one with the other, and with the reverse or unfinished sides 66U, 74U thereof confronting each other. Thereafter, the panels 68 and 76 are superimposed on the panels 66 and 74, respectively, with the obverse or finished sides of the former being juxtaposed with respect to the obverse sides of the latter. With the corresponding edges of the assembled panels 66, 68, 74, 76 disposed in the same planes, respectively, one of the common adjacent ends thereof are secured together along a line of stitching 90. The panels 68 and 76 are then reverted in the direction of the arrows (see FIGURE 2) about the line of stitching and in the manner shown in dotted lines to place the reverse sides 68U and 76U in confronting relation. I

Panel is now juxtaposed against the reverted panel 68 and panel 78 is superimposed against the panel 76 with the obverse sides of the pairs of panels 68, 7t and 76, 78 in confronting relation relative to each other, re-

spectively, and with adjacent end edges of the panels 70,

78 disposed coplanar with the free end edges of the panels 68, 76. The panels 68, 70, 76 and 78 are now stitched together at 92, in a four ply seam, and the panels 70, 78 are now reverted about the line of stitching 92 as before and assume the positions shown in FIGURE 3.

The next step in forming the end wall panel assembly 56 resides in the juxtaposition of the panels 72, 80 against the panels 70, 78 with the free ends of the latter being aligned with adjacent ends of the former, these panels being securedtogether in a four ply seam on the line of stitching 94 with the obverse sides of the panels 72, 80 facing the obverse sides of the panels 70, 78, respectively.

The panels 72 and 80 are now reverted, in the same manner as described above, about the stitches 94 and in the direction of arrows indicated in FIGURE 3, bringing the reverse sides 72U and 80U of the panels 72, 80 into confronting relation.

The obverse side 74F of the panel 74 is now superimposed against the corresponding side 80F of the panel 80.

The free end of the panel 66 is now given a one-half twistand the obverse side 66F thereof is superimposed against the corresponding side 72F of the panel 72. The free end edges of the panels 66, 72, 74 and are now arranged in coplanar relationship after which the same are sewed in a four ply seam as at 96. Thereafter, the panel 66 is untwisted and the assembled panels now take'the form of the end wall panel assembly 56 shown in FIGURE 4 wherein the obverse sides of the panels 66, 68, 71} and 72 face inwardly, and the corresponding sides of the panels 74, 76, 78 and 80 fact outwardly.

The side Wall panel assembly 56 is now collapsed or folded flat as shown in FIGURE with the obverse sides of the panels 74, 76, 78 and 81 facing outwardly, the same being true of the panels 66, 68, '70 and 72. The flat side wall panel assembly 56 is now superimposed against the obverse side 62F of the end wall panel 62 and a second end wall panel 58 is superimposed on the flattened side panel assembly 56 with the obverse side 53F thereof facing the obverse sides of the panels 66, 68, 76 and '72. The outer marginal edges of the panels 66, 68, 70, 72, '74, 76, 78 and 80 and the marginal edges of the panels 58 and 62 are now sewed together in a peripheral four ply seam 98 (see FIGURE 6) but leaving a small unsewed portion or gap extending between a pair of ends thereof designated at 109, 162.

The unfinished cover member is now turned inside out through the gap extending between the stitching or sewing ends 100, 102 in the manner shown in FIGURE 7, and in the direction of the arrow.

The unfinished cover member 51} identified here for convenience as SGU as thus far completed now assumes the configuration shown in FIGURE 8, with the unsewn edges of the panels 66, 68, 70, 72, '74, 76, 78 and 8t) facing outwardly and the obverse sides thereof and of the panels 58, 62 being exposed.

The obverse side 60F of the end panel 60' is now superimposed over the corresponding sides or faces of the panels 58, 66, 68, 70 and 72 and the obverse side 64F of the panel 64 is brought into juxtaposition relative to the obverse sides or faces of the panels 74, 76, 78, 80 and 62 (see FIGURE 8), the arrangement being such that the side edges of the panel 60, 64 are coplanar with the unsewn edges of the above referred to last named end wall panels. The assembly is now sewn or stitched together around the respective outer marginal edges in the four-ply seam 164 but with a portion or gap left between the seam ends 186, 1%)8. The assembly is now turned inside out through the gap between the stitch ends 186, 108 as shown in FIGURE 10 to assume the finished receptacle or cover member 50 shown in FIGURE 11. The gap between the stitch ends 106, 108 is now closed by stitching not shown.

If desired, the gaps or openings 90, 92 may be furnished with slide fasteners 112, 114 or other conventional closure means.

In the finished form of the receptacle or cover member 50 illustrated in FIGURE 11, the obverse sides of the panels 50, 58, 60, 66, 68, 70 and 72 face outermost. Should the user of the receptacle or cover member 50 desire to utilize the coloring and design of the panels 62, 64, 74, '76, 78 and 80, the receptacle 50 is turned inside out through the openings 90, 92 in the manner shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 11. The reversed receptacle or cover member 50 after being turned inside out is illustrated in FIGURE 12 of the drawings.

FIGURES 15 to 22, inclusive, illustrate a still further embodiment of this invention. In this modification, the finished or completed receptacle or cover member is designated at 200 in FIGURE 21, and is constructed in the following manner.

Four elongated substantially rectangular panels 202 having the same dimensions, color and design are assembled in end-to-end relation and have their respective adjacent ends secured together along lines of stitching 264 to form a substantially rectangular wall. The adjacent ends of the joined panels 202 which extend outwardly beyond the stitches 264 form inwardly projecting confronting lips 204A, 264B. A second rectangular wall is formed of four similarly sized elongated substantially rectangular panels 266 having the same color and design, but differing in color and design from the first named four panels. The panels 2136 are arranged in end-to-end 6 relation and have their respective adjacent ends secured together along lines of stitches 2118, respectively, in such a manner as to form a substantially rectangular wall wherein the adjacent ends of the joined panels which project beyond the lines of stitches 203 comprise confronting lips 2116A, 2063.

The construction of the two wall panel assemblies are such that the assembled panels 206 will nest smoothly within the panels 202 in the manner shown in FIGURE 16 to comprise, when incorporated in the finished device, a side wall panel assembly 211 (see FIGURE 21).

As in the preceding embodiment, each of the panels 202 and 206 are provided with oppositely disposed obverse finished faces and reverse unfinished faces designated at 202F and 206U,respectively.

The joined panel assemblies 202 and 266, respectively, are now flattened against each other with the unfinished sides 202U, 26U thereof confronting each other as shown in FIGURE 17, and with the edges thereof being coincident. In this position the lips 202A, 202B are folded away from each other as are the lips 206A, 2e63, and the lips 262A, 266A and 2623, 20 63 are juxtaposed relative to each other, respectively. Thereafter, the finished side 212E of a substantially rectangular end Wall panel 212 is superimposed against the finished sides 202E of the panels 202 and the finished side 2MP of a substantially rectangular panel 214 is superimposed against the finished sides 21161 of the panels 206. The panel 212 has the same color and design as the panels 202 and the panel 214 corresponds in color and design with the panels 266. The panels 212, 21 1- have their respective edges disposed coincident with the outer edges of the panels 282, 266 when the former are extended across the latter.

A line of sitches 216 is now sewn through the marginal edges of the assembled panels 202, 266, 212, 214, in a four ply seam, the stitches being discontinuous at 218, 220 to leave a gap or opening therebetween through which the unfinished receptacle is now turned inside out as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 18.

Reference numerals 222, 224 designate, in general, two end wall substantially rectangular panels of which the panel 222 has the same color and design as the panel 212 and obverse finished and reverse unfinished faces.

222E, 222U, respectively. Likewise, the panel 224 has; corresponding obverse and reverse finished and unfinishedi faces 224F and 224U, respectively, and is preferably of the same color and design as the panel 214. Each of the panels 222, 224 are preferably formed of a pair of elongated substantially rectangular pieces designated at 222A, 222B and 224A, 2243, respectively, and having longitudinally extending juxtaposed edges connected together adjacent their respective opposed ends as by stitching 226, 228 to form the single panels 222, 224, respectively, each having a longitudinally extending medial slot 230, 232, respectively, therethrough. The slots 230, 232 could be formed, of course, by merely cutting a longitudinally extending medially positioned opening in each of the panels 222, 224.

The obverse finished face 222F of the panel 222 is superimposed against the obverse finished faces 2tl2F of the panels 202, and similarly, the obverse finished face 224-F of the panel 224 is superimposed against the 0bverse finished faces 2fi6F of the panels 206. The superimposed panels 26'2, 206, 224 and 222 are arranged with coincident outer edges and are sewed together in a four ply seam 234, see FIGURE 20, the seam 234 being discontinuous at ends designated at 236, 238 to leave an opening or gap therebetween through which the connected panels are now turned inside out as is indicated in dotted lines. The gap or opening between the points 236, 238 is now closed by stitching not shown, and the receptacle or cover member is now completed and assumes the form shown in FIGURE 21 of the drawings.

To those skilled in this art, it will become obvious that the above described technique for constructing the;

292,206, 224 and 222 have been arranged with coincident outer edges in the manner described above, refer-;

ence being made to FIGURE 19, the outer peripheral edges may thenbe sewed with a continuous seam 234, and the connected panels may then be turned inside out through either of the slots 230 or 232, as illustrated in FIGURE 23.

' When the obverse or finished sides of the receptacle shown in FIGURES 20, '23 become soiled, or if the user desires to change the color and design of the receptacle or cover 200, the same is merely turned inside out through the slots 230, 232. The slotted panels could, if desired, be provided with closure means in accordance with the embodiment of this invention previously de- 7 scribed.

This invention contemplates other modifications not herein illustrated but which clearly come Within the purview of the invention. For example, the end wall assembly shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 could be substituted for the end wall assembly shown in FIGURES and 16, omitting, of course, the slits 90, 92. The converse is also true, requiring only the provision of a slit in a selected pair of adjacent panels 202, 206.

A receptacle such as is shown in either of the two above described embodiments of this invention serve all of the objects ascribed thereto supra, and it should be thisinvention is, to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: a V r 1. A method for forming a substantially hollow reversible receptacle or cover member having opposed pairs of fabric end panels and a peripheral side wall disposed therebetween and formed of a plurality of connected opposed pairs of fabric panels, saidmethodcomprising the steps of connecting together a plurality of first panels in end-to-end relation to form a first continuous band, connecting together a plurality of second panels in end-toend relation to form a second continuous band, flattening both of said bands so as to dispose opposite edges of the band in the same plane and superimposing one of said bands against the other with the outer peripheral edges of said bands being coincident, superimposing a fabric panel against each remotely disposed side, respectively, of said superimposed bands with the peripheral edges of said superimposed panels coincident with each other and with the peripheral edges of said bands, sewing together the marginal edges of said bands and said superimposed panels, said sewing being discontinuous: to leave an unsewn portion between the ends thereof, turning said bands and said superimposed panels inside out through said unsewn portion, sewing together said bands and'said superimposed panels along said unsewn portion, superimposing, third and fourth panels against the how ex: posed sides of said superimposed panels and bands with the edges of said third and fourth panels disposed, coin cident with the unsewn edges of said bands, sewing together the marginal edges of said bands and said third and fourth panels'in a discontinuous seam to leave an unsewn portion between the ends thereof, turning said bands, said superimposed panels and said third and fourth panels inside out through said last mentioned unsewn portion, sewing said last mentioned unsewn portions of said bands and said third and fourth panels, and forming a slot in the now juxtaposed said first and third or in said second and fourth pairs of panels, said slots confronting one another.

2. A method for forming a substantially hollow reversible receptacle or cover member having opposed pairs of fabric end panels and a peripheral side wall disposed therebetween and formed of a plurality of connected opposed pairs of fabric panels, said method comprising the steps of connecting together a plurality of first panels in end-to-end relation to form a first continuous band, connecting together a plurality of second panels in end-toend relation to form a second continuous band, flattening both of said bands so as to dispose the opposite edges of the band in the same plane and superimposing one of said bands against the other with the outer peripheral edges of said bands being coincident, superimposing a fabric panel against each remotely disposed side, respectively, of said superimposed bands with the peripheral edges of said superimposed panels coincident with each other and with the peripheral edges of said bands, sewing together the marginal edges of said bands and said superimposed panels, said sewing being discontinuous to leave an unsewn portion between the ends thereof, turning said bands and said superimposed panels inside out through said unsewn portion and sewing together said bands and said superimposed panels along smd unsewn portion, superimposing third and iourth panels against the now remote sides, respectively, of said superimposed panels and bands, with the edges of said third and fourth panels disposed coincident with .the unsewn edges of said bands, sewing together the marginal edges of said bands and said third and fourth panels in a discontinuous seam to leave an unsewn portion between the ends thereof, turning said bands, said superimposed panels and said third and fourth panels inside out through said last mentioned unsewn portion, sewing said last mentioned unsewn portions ofsaid bands and said third and fourth panels, and forming'a slot in a selected one pair of adjacent panels forming said bands, said slots confronting one another.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,272,716 Lowe Feb. 10, 1942 2,460,452 Hampton Feb. 1, 1949 2,524,982 Levitt Oct. 10. 1950 2,659,421 Wass et al -2 Nov. 17, 1953 2,737,136 Ryder Mar. 6, 1956 2,890,460 Levi June 16, 1959 2,895,146 Lester July 21, 1959 

